persiMon® Persimmons are Perfect for the Holidays

Limited quantities available November through January, if they last

Toronto, October 26th, 2015 – The arrival of the holiday period provides the perfect excuse to deviate from your regular diet, awaken your taste buds and get creative in the kitchen, as seasonal foods adorn produce departments. Take Persimon®, the brand name bestowed upon the Rojo Brillante variety of persimmon from Ribera del Xúquer, for example, available for a limited time. Persimmons are coveted by many cultures and often purchased by the case because, well, it is hard to eat just one. Other consumers, less familiar with this fruit, need not be intimidated. Persimon® are perfect for eating fresh and for using in a variety of recipes. To encourage familiarity with Persimon®, a healthy, versatile fruit, we are breaking down the details:

What you need to know:

persiMon® was trademarked as a brand in order to distinguish its features from other persimmons. persiMon® is ripe and ready to eat when firm while Hachiya persimmons must be consumed when they turn soft and ripen.

persiMon® are sweet with a delicate flavour similar to cantaloupe, peach or mango and ready to eat as soon as they are purchased.

They are seedless, pitless and no peeling is required.

They contain six grams of fibre per fruit – double the amount of fibre found in a peach, banana or orange.

persiMon® is a good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C and is high in antioxidants.

Rich in fibre, it contains potassium, magnesium and manganese, minerals that contribute to the maintenance of good health.

Antioxidants, along with vitamins A and C, may help protect cells from the damaging action of free radicals, which lead to heart disease, cancer and aging.

Only persimmons bearing the persiMon® trademark are certified and protected by the Denomination of Origin (D.O.) Ribera del Xúquer. This quality seal (D.O.) is the only designation in the world for a persimmon fruit variety and is recognized by the European Union.

Ways to enjoy and store:

At the store, look for bright orange skin that is firm to the touch. Sometimes a persiMon® may be speckled with natural sugar freckles, which appear as the fruit ripens (just like bananas). These freckles are a sign of extra sweetness.

persiMon® wedges or slices can be added to cereal, yogurt or ice cream, or make a sweet topping for a savoury salad. It is also perfect in a chutney to accompany different meals.

persiMon® are a convenient, easy snack for children.
You can enjoy the refreshingly sweet flavour with the skin on, or you can peel it first.

Eat it fresh out-of-hand, like an apple, or slice the fruit horizontally to reveal a unique star pattern in the flesh.

Store persiMon® at room temperature in a bowl or on the counter away from other fruits.

Enjoy persiMon® from Spain this holiday season and try these recipes at one of your gatherings:

persiMon® Wrapped in Serrano Ham with Manchego and Watercress – Refreshing and refined, these hors d’oeuvre parcels are perfect for any occasion. The sweet, juicy flavour of the persiMon® pairs perfectly with the richness of the Manchego and the peppery watercress.View Recipe | Download Image

Pork Chops with persiMon® Chutney – Here’s a recipe game changer: Replace the apple sauce you might typically serve with pork chops with this tasty persiMon® chutney. persiMon® and pork chops are the most dynamic of duos!View Recipe | Download Image

For additional recipes, tips, and information about where to buy persiMon®, visit www.persimoncanada.com.
About Kaki persiMon® from Ribera del Xúquer
D.O.P. Kaki Ribera del Xúquer, was established in 1998 to oversee the implementation of strict quality controls surrounding the entire value chain production of persiMon® fruit. Since 2001 it is a Protected Denomination of Origin by the European Union. It represents almost 6,000 registered producers and 15 packers with more than 4,000 hectares of production in the province of Valencia, one of the most important growing regions of kaki in Europe.